For the past 25 years I have studied, taught and advised on the role of trees and green space in our cities and towns. My particular interests include green space governance (including community involvement), people-nature relationships and cultural ecosystem services, and urban forestry and urban greening. My work has brought me across the globe and I have always worked in close dialogue with decision-makers and practitioners, and I am eager to develop new research that has high practical relevance. Before coming to UBC, I worked at Wageningen University (Netherlands), the European Forest Institute (Finland), the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sweden), and the University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China).

My research and teaching at UBC focus on some of the aspects above. I will e.g, teach the UFOR 100 introduction course, the UFOR 402 course on urban forest governance, legislation and administration, and other courses in UBC’s urban forestry program. From July 2017, I will also serve as Programme Director for the Bachelor of Urban Forestry.

Research Areas

Urban forestry

Urban green space governance

Green infrastructure planning

Cultural ecosystem services

Place making and keeping

People and nature relations in urban societies

Projects

Routledge Handbook on Urban ForestryCompleted

January, 2016 – April, 2017

Together with Francesco Ferrini and Alessio Fini (both University of Florence) I edited a new Handbook on Urban Forestry, with 35 chapters by over 50 authors on all aspects of urban forestry.

GREEN SURGE – Green Infrastructure and Urban Biodiversity for Sustainable Urban Development and the Green EconomyCompleted

I was the PI and Project Coordinator of this European-Union funded research project until my move to UBC. During the final stages of this project (which ends in November 2017) I am still contributing to some of the outputs and publications. Moreover I am a member of the project’s scientific advisory group.

An integrated approach to urban forestry for ecosystem-based adaptationCurrent

December, 2016 – September, 2020

This project led by postdoctoral fellow Tahia Devisscher adopts an innovative integrated approach to study social-ecological interactions that can enhance the management of urban forests for climate adaptation. Vancouver is one of the case studies.

The role of women in arboriculture and urban forestryCurrent

December, 2016 – December, 2018

Project led by postdoctoral fellow Adrina Bardekjian. This research looks into the current role of women in the fields and professions of arboriculture and urban forestry, with focus on North America.

UBC campus tree inventoryPlanning

May, 2017 – September, 2017

This joint effort with UBC Campus & Community Planning and the SEEDS programme aims to carry out a full, step-wise inventory and assessment of the urban forest at UBC’s Vancouver campus. As a first step, trees in the Stadium Neighbourhood were inventoried.

Do Rainbows Come in Green? Urban Forests and Multicultural CitizenshipCompleted

June, 2017 – December, 2017

This International Research Roundtable, funded and hosted by the Peter Wall Institute of Advanced Studies, will bring together experts and stakeholders from across the globe to discuss diversity challenges and opportunities in urban forestry. The event will was held in October 2017. An associated SSHRC Connection Grant provided further support to the event, and the development of a network and future research.

Carbon accounting – including Canada’s urban forestsCompleted

October, 2017 – March, 2018

Project funded by Environment Canada and led by Tree Canada. The aim is to improve carbon accounting of urban forests and urban forestry, as part of Canada’s overall carbon accounting for forests. Moreover, proposals will be developed for future policy and urban forest assessment.

Urban Forest Governance in Canadian Cities – Managing for Success and Handling CalamitiesCurrent

June, 2018 – December, 2019

SSHRC-funded project on urban forest governance in selected Canadian cities.